The Assam government is yet to release the funds for the conduct of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) election held in 2013 and also for the Council election scheduled to be held in May, 2018.
This has come to light from a letter sent recently to the Secretary of Assam State Election Commission by the Deputy Commissioner of Dima Hasao district.
Through the letter, the DC of Dima Hasao district has urged the Secretary of Assam State Election Commission to take up the issue with the government immediately and move the Hill Areas Development Department, Dispur so that arrangement is made to release fund through consolidated fund (CF) proposal at an early date.
Informing that the term of the existing North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC) is going to be expired on June 3, 2018, the DC in his letter stated that “till date the government in the Hill Areas Department has neither allotted any amount against conduct of the last Council election 2013, nor for conduct of forthcoming North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council election, 2018, inspite of several correspondents made in this regard”.
In the letter, the DC of Dima Hasao stated that like previous occasion, the election to all the 28 constituencies of the NCHAC have to be conducted in the month of May, 2018. Accordingly, preparation of Electoral Roll may be started from March 22, 2018.
As a preparation for the Council election, the district administration has prepared a draft schedule for conduct of the Council election. However, the DC stated that a final decision would be taken only after a final discussion with the Assam State Election Commission after a consultation with the government in the Hill Areas Department, Dispur.
As per the draft schedule, March 22, 2018 is the date of draft publication of Electoral Roll, from March 23, 2018 to April 7, 2018 are the dates for filling of claims and objection petitions, from April 9, 2018 to April 12, 2018 are the dates for disposal of claims and objection petitions, April 23 is the date for final publication of Electoral Roll, April 24 is the date for Governor’s notification for conduct of Council election, from April 30, 2018 to May 6, 2018 are the dates for filling of nomination, from May 7, 2018 to May 8, 2018 are the dates for scrutiny of nominations, May 9 is the date for withdrawal of nominations, May 19, 2018 is the polling date and May 24 is the counting of votes.